AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH SILVERLEAF RESORTS, INC.
Ex. 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
WITH SILVERLEAF RESORTS, INC.
WITH SILVERLEAF RESORTS, INC.
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made between SILVERLEAF
RESORTS, INC., a Texas corporation (“Silverleaf”), and XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX (the “Employee”).
R E C I T A L S:
A. Employee is a key executive officer and employee of Silverleaf;
B. Employee and Silverleaf entered into an Employment Agreement effective as of January 1,
2007; and
C. Employee and Silverleaf have jointly agreed to a change of Employee’s title, duties and
responsibilities as of the Effective Date of this Agreement; and
D. Prior to the Effective Date Employee served as President of Silverleaf, while after the
Effective Date Employee will become President of a newly created division within Silverleaf
dedicated to Owner Based Marketing.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and terms hereinafter set forth, the parties
agree as follows:
A G R E E M E N T:
Section 1. Employment. Employee shall be employed by Silverleaf as
President—Owner Based Marketing and Sales Administration, as of the Effective Date hereof through
December 31, 2009 (the “Term”), unless sooner terminated pursuant to the termination provisions of
this Agreement. Employee may not engage in other employment while he or she is in the employ of
Silverleaf pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 2. Duties. Employee agrees to devote such time, attention and
energies as are necessary to fulfill his or her duties as reasonably specified by the Board of
Directors of Silverleaf from time to time for an employee of Employee’s position. Employee further
agrees that he or she will promote the best interests and welfare of Silverleaf and shall perform
any and all duties to the best of his or her abilities. The Employee shall:
(a) Non-Competition: Not render to others, during his or her employment with
Silverleaf, service of any kind for compensation or promote, participate or engage in any
other business activity which would conflict or interfere with the performance of his or her
duties or loyalty under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, participating in the
promotion or sale of products or services for a competitor of Silverleaf or otherwise engage
in business with such competitor;
(b) Regulatory Laws: Abide by all applicable statutes, rules and regulations
of each State in which services may be rendered; and
(c) Silverleaf Rules: Abide by all rules, regulations and policies issued by
Silverleaf, which are pertinent to Employee’s duties and obligations.
Section 3. Compensation. As compensation for the services rendered pursuant
to this Agreement:
(a) Base Compensation: Silverleaf shall pay Employee base compensation
computed at the annual rate of Four Hundred, Seventy-Five Thousand and No/100 Dollars
($475,000.00), payable in semi-monthly payments on the 15th day and the last day of each
month.
(b) Incentive Compensation: Employee shall be entitled to participate in any
bonus, incentive, stock option or other compensation plans of Silverleaf only to the extent
the Board of Directors of Silverleaf may deem appropriate from time to time.
(c) Company Vehicle: Silverleaf shall furnish Employee a company owned vehicle
for use by Employee in performing his or her duties, and Silverleaf shall pay all expenses
associated therewith.
(d) Fringe Benefits: Silverleaf shall provide Employee health and life
insurance under its group plans as they may exist from time to time. The cost of any
coverage of any of the Employee’s family members under Silverleaf’s group plans shall be
paid by the Employee. The Employee shall also be entitled to such vacation time, sick leave
and other fringe benefits as may be specified by the Board of Directors of Silverleaf from
time to time for its executive personnel.
Section 4. Termination Payments. If Employee’s employment with Silverleaf is
terminated prior to a Change of Control, the payment to Employee of all compensation earned to the
date of termination (the “Earned Compensation”) shall be in full satisfaction of all of Employee’s
claims against Silverleaf under this Agreement and Employee shall be entitled to no other
termination pay. If Employee’s employment is terminated after a Change of Control and during the
Term or any extended Term of this Agreement, then the following provisions shall apply:
(a) Good Cause or Voluntary Termination: If Silverleaf terminates Employee’s
employment for Good Cause, or if Employee voluntarily terminates Employee’s employment other
than for Good Reason, then Employee shall be entitled to the Earned Compensation only.
(b) No Good Cause or Good Reason: If Silverleaf terminates Employee’s
employment other than for Good Cause, or if Employee terminates Employee’s employment for
Good Reason, then Employee shall be entitled to the Earned Compensation and to Severance
Pay. For this purpose, Severance Pay means an amount of compensation equal to
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two (2) times the sum of the total cash compensation received by the Employee for the
immediately preceding calendar year, including but not limited to any base compensation,
commissions, bonuses, and similar cash items, but exclusive of any fringe benefits, vehicle
usage and similar non-cash items. The Severance Pay shall be payable in a lump sum within
thirty (30) days after the termination of employment. As a condition precedent to the
payment of the Severance Pay, Employee agrees to execute and deliver to Silverleaf a general
release of Silverleaf and its affiliates from any and all other claims that Employee might
have against Silverleaf and its affiliates, the form of which will be provided by
Silverleaf.
(c) Death or Incapacity: If Employee’s employment is terminated because of
Employee’s death, or Employee’s incapacity and inability to perform Employee’s duties
hereunder due to Employee’s physical or mental illness, then Employee shall be entitled to
the Earned Compensation only.
Section 5. Termination Payment Definitions. For purposes of Section 4, the
following definitions shall apply:
(a) Change of Control: “Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following events after the Effective Date:
[1] Individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board of Directors
(the “Board”) of Silverleaf (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a
director subsequent to such date, whose election or nomination for election was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the
Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of Silverleaf
in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection
to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no
individual initially elected or nominated as a director of Silverleaf as a result of
an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of
any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
[2] The consummation of any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the business of Silverleaf through one
transaction or a series of related transactions to one or more persons or entities;
[3] Any “Person” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14
(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, is or becomes a “beneficial
owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of Silverleaf representing more than 50% of the
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combined voting power of Silverleaf’s then outstanding securities eligible to
vote for the election of the Board;
[4] The consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, statutory
share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving Silverleaf or any
of its subsidiaries that requires the approval of Silverleaf’s stockholders, whether
for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction; or
[5] The stockholders of Silverleaf approve a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution.
(b) Good Cause: “Good Cause” shall be deemed to exist if Employee:
[1] Willfully breaches or habitually neglects the duties that the Employee is
required to perform under the terms of this Agreement;
[2] Willfully violates reasonable and substantial rules, regulations or
policies governing employee performance;
[3] Willfully refuses to obey reasonable orders in a manner that amounts to
insubordination; or
[4] Willfully commits clearly dishonest acts toward Silverleaf.
For such purposes, no act or failure to act by Employee shall be considered “willful” unless
done or omitted to be done by Employee in bad faith and without reasonable belief that
Employee’s action or omission was in the best interests of Silverleaf or its affiliates.
Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted
by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for Silverleaf shall be conclusively
presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Employee in good faith and in the best
interests of Silverleaf. Good Cause shall also not exist pursuant to clause [1], [2] or
[3], unless Employee has failed to correct the activity alleged to constitute Good Cause
within thirty (30) days following written notice from Silverleaf of such activity, which
notice shall specifically set forth the nature of such activity and the corrective action
reasonably sought by Silverleaf. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the termination of the
Employee’s employment for Good Cause shall be pursuant to the action of the Board, taken in
conformity with the By-laws of Silverleaf.
(c) Good Reason: “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following events after a Change of Control:
[1] The failure by Silverleaf to pay Employee the compensation and benefits due
Employee under Section 3;
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[2] A material diminution in Employee’s responsibilities or authority, or a
diminution of Employee’s title;
[3] Employee is required to relocate for purposes of Employee’s employment with
Silverleaf;
[4] Any material breach of this Agreement by Silverleaf; or
[5] The failure of any successor to all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of Silverleaf to assume this Agreement.
Provided, however, Employee must give written notice to Silverleaf of the event constituting
Good Reason within thirty (30) days of Employee’s knowledge of the event, or such event
shall not constitute Good Reason. Provided, further, Good Reason shall not be deemed to
exist unless Silverleaf fails to cure the event giving rise to Good Reason within thirty
(30) days after receipt of the written notice from Employee.
Section 6. Confidentiality.
(a) Nondisclosure and Nonuse: Employee acknowledges that during his or her
employment with Silverleaf, he or she may have access to and become acquainted with
Silverleaf Confidential Information, as defined below. Except as Employee’s duties during
his or her employment with Silverleaf may require or Silverleaf may otherwise consent in
writing, Employee agrees that he or she shall not at any time disclose or use, directly or
indirectly, either during or subsequent to his or her employment with Silverleaf, any
Silverleaf Confidential Information.
(b) Confidential Information: For purposes of the foregoing provisions,
“Silverleaf Confidential Information” shall mean (1) any and all confidential and
proprietary business information and trade secrets concerning the business and affairs of
Silverleaf and its affiliates, including but not limited to all marketing, sales and lead
generation techniques, know-how and studies, timeshare member lists, other customer and lead
lists, current and anticipated customer requirements, price lists, business plans, training
programs, computer software and programs, and computer software and data-base technologies,
systems, structures and architectures (and related processes, formulae, compositions,
improvements, devices, know-how, inventions, discoveries, concepts, ideas, designs, methods
and information), (2) any and all information concerning the business and affairs of
Silverleaf and its affiliates (including but not limited to their historical financial
statements, financial projections and budgets, historical and projected sales, capital
spending budgets and plans, the names and backgrounds of key personnel, personnel training
and techniques and materials, however documented), and (3) any and all notes, analysis,
compilations, studies, summaries, and other material prepared by or for Silverleaf and its
affiliates containing or based, in whole or in part, on any information included in the
foregoing.
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Section 7. Non-Interference. Employee further agrees that during his or her
employment and for a period of two (2) years after the effective date of any Termination, Employee
shall not, either on his or her own account or jointly with or as a manager, agent, officer,
employee, consultant, partner, joint venturer, owner or shareholder or otherwise on behalf of any
other person, firm or corporation: (1) carry on or be engaged or interested directly or indirectly
in, or solicit, the manufacture or sale of goods or provision of services to any person, firm or
corporation which, at any time during his or her employment has been or is a customer or in the
habit of dealing with Silverleaf or its affiliates in their business if it would adversely affect
Silverleaf’s business, (2) endeavor, directly or indirectly, to canvas or solicit in competition
with Silverleaf or its affiliates or to interfere with the supply of orders for goods or services
from or by any person, firm or corporation which during this or her employment has been or is a
supplier of goods or services to Silverleaf or its affiliates if it would adversely affect
Silverleaf’s business, or (3) directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit away from
Silverleaf or its affiliates any of its officers, employees or independent contractors or offer
employment or business to any person who, on or during the 6 months immediately preceding the date
of such solicitation or offer, is or was an officer, employee or independent contractor of
Silverleaf or its affiliates.
Section 8. Noncompetition.
(a) Covenant: Employee covenants and agrees that he or she shall not, for a
period of two (2) years after the effective date of any Termination, working alone or in
conjunction with one or more other persons or entities, for compensation or not, permit his
or her name to be used by or engage in or carry on, directly or indirectly, either for
himself or herself or as a member of a partnership or other entity or as a stockholder,
investor, officer or director of a corporation or as an employee, agent, associate or
contractor of any person, partnership, corporation or other entity, any business in
competition with the business of Silverleaf or its affiliates, as carried on by Silverleaf
or its affiliates immediately prior to the effective date of any Termination, but only for
as long as such business is carried on by (1) Silverleaf or its affiliates or (2) any
person, corporation, partnership, trust or other organization or entity deriving title from
Silverleaf or its affiliates to the assets and goodwill of the business being carried on by
Silverleaf or its affiliates immediately prior to the effective date of any Termination, in
any county of any state of the United States in which Silverleaf or its affiliates conducts
such business or markets the products of such business immediately prior to the effective
date of any Termination.
(b) Tolling. If Employee violates any covenant contained in this Section, then
the term of such violated covenant shall be tolled for the period commencing on the
commencement of such violation and ending upon the earlier of (1) such time as such
violation shall be cured by Employee to the reasonable satisfaction of Silverleaf, (2) final
adjudication (including appeals) of any action filed for injunctive relief or damages
arising out of such violation, and (3) the expiration of 24 months after Termination during
which no violation of the covenant has occurred.
(c) Reformation. If, in any judicial proceeding, the court shall refuse to
enforce any covenant contained in this Section because the time limit is too long, it is
expressly understood and agreed between Silverleaf and Employee that for purposes of such
proceeding such time limitation shall be deemed reduced to the extent necessary to permit
enforcement of such covenant. If, in any judicial proceeding, the court shall refuse to
enforce any covenant contained in this Section because it is more extensive (whether as to
geographic area, scope of business or otherwise) than necessary to protect the business and
goodwill of Silverleaf and/or its affiliates, it is expressly
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understood and agreed between
Silverleaf and Employee that for purposes of such proceeding the geographic area, scope of
business or other aspect shall be deemed reduced to the extent necessary to permit
enforcement of such covenant.
Section 9. Injunctive Relief. Employee acknowledges that a breach of
Sections 6, 7, or 8 hereof would cause irreparable damage to Silverleaf and/or its affiliates, and
in the event of Employee’s breach of the provisions of Sections 6, 7 or 8 hereof, Silverleaf shall
be entitled to a temporary restraining order and an injunction restraining Employee from breaching
such Sections without the necessity of posting bond or proving irreparable harm, such being
conclusively admitted by Employee. Nothing shall be construed as prohibiting Silverleaf from
pursuing any other available remedies for such breach, including the recovery of damages from
Employee. Employee acknowledges that the restrictions set forth in Sections 6, 7 and 8 hereof are
reasonable in scope and duration, given the nature of the business of Silverleaf and its
affiliates. Employee agrees that issuance of an injunction restraining Employee from breaching
such Sections in accordance with their terms will not pose an unreasonable restriction on
Employee’s ability to obtain employment or other work following the effective date of any
Termination.
Section 10. Employee Investments. Anything to the contrary herein
notwithstanding, Employee: (1) shall not be prohibited from investing his or her assets in such
form or such manner as will not, in the aggregate, detract from the performance by Employee of his
or her duties hereunder and will not violate the provisions of Sections 6, 7 or 8 hereof; and (2)
shall not be prohibited from purchasing stock in any publicly traded company solely as a
stockholder so long as Employee does not own (together or separately or through his or her
affiliates) more than two percent (2%) of the stock in any company, other than Silverleaf, which is
engaged in the timeshare business.
Section 11. Employee’s Representations. Employee represents and warrants that
he or she is free to enter into and perform each of the terms and conditions hereof, and that his
or her execution and performance of this Agreement does not and will not violate or breach any
other Agreement between Employee and any other person or entity.
Section 12. Termination. Employee’s employment shall terminate upon the expiration of the Term of this
Agreement, or prior thereto: (1) upon written notice by either party, at any time and for any or no
reason whatsoever, at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of the termination; or (2)
as of the end of the month of Employee’s death, or incapacity and inability to perform Employee’s duties
hereunder due to Employee’s physical or mental illness (the “Termination”). The Term of this Agreement
may be extended only: (1) by the written agreement of Employee and Silverleaf; or (2) by Silverleaf, in
its sole discretion, by the giving of written notice to Employee of a one (1) year extension of the then
Term of this
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Agreement no later than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the then Term of this
Agreement. If Silverleaf unilaterally extends the Term as provided above, Employee, in Employee’s sole
discretion, may reject the extension by giving written notice to Silverleaf within thirty (30)
days of the date of Silverleaf’s notice of the extension, in which event the Term shall not be extended.
Section 13. Return of Materials and Vehicles: Employee understands and agrees
that any training manuals, sales and promotional material, vehicles or other equipment provided to
him or her by Silverleaf in connection with this Agreement shall remain the sole property of
Silverleaf, and shall be used by the Employee exclusively for Silverleaf’s benefit. Upon
termination of this Agreement, any such material, vehicles or other equipment shall be immediately
returned to Silverleaf.
Section 14. Non-Binding Alternate Dispute Resolution. Except for actions
brought by Silverleaf pursuant to Section 9 hereof:
(a) Agreement to Utilize: The parties shall attempt to settle any claim or
controversy arising from this Agreement through consultation and negotiation in good faith
and a spirit of mutual cooperation prior to the commencement of any legal action. If such
attempts fail, then the dispute shall be mediated by a mutually-accepted mediator to be
chosen by the parties within forty-five (45) days after written notice demanding mediation
is sent by one party to the other party. Neither party may unreasonably withhold consent to
the selection of a mediator, and the parties shall share the costs of the mediation equally.
By mutual written agreement, however, the parties may postpone mediation until they have
completed some specified but limited discovery regarding the dispute. The parties may also
agree to replace mediation with any other form of alternate dispute resolution (“ADR”)
available in Texas, such as a mini-trial or arbitration.
(b) Failure to Resolve: Any dispute which the Parties cannot resolve through
negotiation, mediation or any other form of ADR, within six (6) months of the date of the
initial demand for mediation, may then be submitted to the appropriate court for resolution.
The use of negotiation, mediation, or any other form of ADR procedures will not be
construed under the doctrines of laches, waiver or estoppel to affect adversely the rights
of either party.
Section 15. Waiver. Silverleaf’s failure at any time to require performance
by Employee of any of the provisions hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any kind nor in
any way affect the rights of Silverleaf thereafter to enforce the provisions hereof. In the event
that either party to this Agreement waives any provision of this Agreement or any rights concerning
any breach or default of the other party hereto, such waiver shall not constitute a continuing
waiver of any such provision or breach or default of the other party hereto.
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Section 16. Successors, Assignability.
(a) Silverleaf Successors: The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon Silverleaf, its successors, assigns and other affiliated
entities, including, but not limited to, any corporation or other entity which may acquire
all or substantially all of Silverleaf’s assets or with or into which Silverleaf may be
consolidated, merged or reorganized. Upon any such merger, consolidation or reorganization,
the term “Silverleaf” as used herein shall be deemed to refer to any such successor.
(b) No Assignment by Employee: The parties hereto agree that Employee’s
services hereunder are personal and unique, and that Silverleaf is executing this Agreement
in reliance thereon. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Employee.
Section 17. Severability. If one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement,
but shall be deemed stricken and severed from this Agreement and the remaining terms of this
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 18. Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be deemed to have
been made and entered into in the State of Texas and its validity, construction, breach,
performance and operation shall be governed by the laws of that state. The obligations hereunder
of Silverleaf shall be performable in Dallas County, Texas, and venue for any suit involving this
Agreement shall lie exclusively in Dallas County, Texas.
Section 19. Entire Understanding. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding between the parties with respect to the employment of Employee, and no other
representations, warranties or agreements whatsoever have been made by Silverleaf to Employee.
Further, this Agreement may not be modified or amended except by another instrument in writing
executed by both of the parties.
Section 20. Notices. All notices and communications under this Agreement
shall be sent to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses that the parties
may subsequently designate in writing.
| (a) | Silverleaf: | ||
| Silverleaf Resorts, Inc. Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Chief Executive Officer 0000 Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 |
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| (b) | Employee: | ||
| Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx 0000 Xxxxx Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 |
Section 21. Section Headings. Section and paragraph headings are inserted
herein only for convenience and shall not be used to interpret any of the provisions hereof.
Section 22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
original.
Section 23. Effective Date. This Agreement is executed on the date set forth
below, but shall be effective as of May 7, 2009 (the “Effective Date”).
| Dates of Execution: | “SILVERLEAF” | |||||
| SILVERLEAF RESORTS, INC. | ||||||
May 7, 2009
|
By: | /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXX | ||||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
| “EMPLOYEE” | ||||||
| May 11, 2009 | /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX | |||||
| XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX | ||||||
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